Adding on to my previous post (find that here), we have even more of my favorite movie characters with each MBTI type! If you aren’t sure what the MBTI is, check out my last post for a quick summary. This one is all about what 16personalities calls the Explorers, which are any type that is both sensing and perceiving. Like I said in the last post, I may personally disagree with the typing of some of these characters (and there’s one in this one I definitely disagree with), but this is all based on what the Personality Database community says.
The ISTPs: Indiana Jones and James Bond
Indiana Jones (Harrison Ford), the hero of the eponymous movie series, is nearly the perfect archetype of an ISTP. This personality type pays great attention to details, something that helps in Jones’s career as an archeologist. Their dominant function, introverted thinking, means that they view situations through an objective lens, as seen when he acts without considering the emotional impact of what he does. This is assisted by his auxiliary extroverted sensing function, which leads to a lack of long term commitment, visible in the fact that he has an entirely different love interest in every movie (other than in Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, which saw the return of Marion Ravenwood, but as far as I’m concerned, that movie never happened). James Bond (played by multiple actors, but in this, we’re looking at Daniel Craig), is also a stereotypical ISTP. Like Indiana Jones, he suffers from a dislike of commitment, as seen with the introduction of a new Bond Girl in every film. He also notices tiny details, something that assists him as a secret agent. They respond well under pressure, as seen in Casino Royale when Bond knows just what to do when his drink is poisoned. ISTPs are regarded as difficult to get to know, which is why it was so interesting when Vesper dissected nearly his entire personality very soon after meeting him. Other ISTPs I love include Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games), Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff (The Avengers and other Marvel properties), Kristoff (Frozen), Darth Maul (Star Wars), Boba Fett (Star Wars), and Spider-Gwen (Spider-Man: Into the Spiderverse).
The ISFPs: Rey Skywalker and Eowyn
Come on. Did you really think I was going to make it through a post without talking about Rey Skywalker (Daisy Ridley)? Absolutely not. The ISFP is bold and spontaneous, which in Rey, manifests in her impulsiveness, as seen in The Last Jedi when she jumped in a pod and flew across the entire galaxy after seeing a little bit of light left in Kylo Ren. This is also in line with the fact that this type has a tendency not to plan for the result of their actions, such as when it never occurred to her that Kylo Ren could betray her when she went to see him. The ISFP’s auxiliary function, extroverted sensing, allows them to remember the details of things that happened in the past, something Rey displays when we see her vivid, powerful memories of the day her parents abandoned her on Jakku. They prefer to show how they care about people through their actions, such as when she offered her hand to Finn in The Force Awakens rather than explicitly telling him that she trusted him. Eowyn (Miranda Otto) from The Lord of the Rings is also an ISFP. Like I mentioned beforehand, they show that they care about people through actions, which is why she was so suited to becoming a healer. They are principled and cling tightly to their morals, which put her in opposition to Grima Wormtongue, who, to borrow a phrase I love, “goes where the power is.” Like Rey, she is spontaneous, seen when she rides into battle with the Riders of Rohan even though she is not allowed to, being a girl. Other ISFPs I love include Violet Parr (The Incredibles), Legolas (Tthe Lord of the Rings), the Beast (Beauty and the Beast), Jyn Erso (Rogue One), Toothless (How to Train Your Dragon), Buttercup (The Princess Bride), and Tinker Bell (Peter Pan).
The ESTPs: Poe Dameron and Maui
Yes, another Star Wars character. Poe Dameron (Oscar Isaac) is nearly the epitome of an ESTP. This type is very action-oriented, which is especially evident in The Last Jedi, where he believes the solution to most problems is, in the words of Leia, “jumping into an X-Wing and blowing something up.” ESTPs like Poe are impulsive, which can lead to recklessness--which puts him in direct opposition to ESTJ Leia, who prefers to think things out before she acts. ESTPs are considered, which gets Poe out of a lot of sticky situations and explains his razor sharp wit. This is seen in The Force Awakens when, as he is confronted by Kylo Ren, the first thing he thinks to say is, “So, who talks first?” Stereotypically, the ESTP is an adrenaline junkie, which would explain why Poe loves flying so much, especially when the First Order is constantly firing on him. Like Poe, Maui (Dwayne Johnson) from Disney’s Moana is an ESTP. The tertiary function of this type, extroverted feeling, is concerned with being accepted by others, something very evident in Maui’s personality. Everything he does, including stealing the Heart of Te Fiti, was done to help the humans he felt cast him away when he was a child. Because of the ESTP’s dominant extroverted sensing function, they are energetic and prefer to get straight to getting things done rather than focusing too much on planning what’s going on--seen when he doesn’t even consider the idea that Moana could get out of the cave he trapped her in and throw a wrench in his plans. Other ESTPs I love include Thor (The Avengers), Han Solo (Star Wars), Flynn Rider/Eugene Fitzherbert (Tangled), Ant-Man/Scott Lang (Ant-Man), Merida (Brave), Gimli (The Lord of the Rings), Lando Calrissian (Star Wars), Johanna Mason (The Hunger Games), and Eddie Brock (Venom).
The ESFPs: Marty McFly and Elizabeth Swann
ESFPs are known for living in the present moment, and nobody exemplifies that like Marty McFly (Michael J. Fox) from Back to the Future. His inferior function, introverted intuition, is evident in his inability to solve problems through logic, instead preferring to act however he wants without worrying about the consequences of his behavior, such as when he punches Biff in the cafe. They are able to analyze people’s feelings easily, which makes them fun to be around, thus explaining why his mother develops a crush on him when he goes back in time. Elizabeth Swann (Keira Knightley) from the Pirates of the Caribbean films is also an ESFP. Since this type is so adventurous and always seeking new experiences, it’s no wonder that as a child, she was fascinated by pirates, since they were so different from her wealthy, sheltered upbringing. She is charismatic and has strong intrapersonal skills, another trait of an ESFP. This is especially evident when she is named Pirate King and talked the pirates into fighting against the Dutch East India Company. Other ESFPs I love include Simba (The Lion King), Aladdin (Aladdin), Chewbacca (Star Wars), Karen Smith (Mean Girls), Pippin Took (The Lord of the Rings), Tigger (Winnie the Pooh), Harley Quinn (Birds of Prey), and Nemo (Finding Nemo).
So, those are my favorite characters with each Explorer personality type. Next up, the Analysts! Are you one of these personality types? Let me know, and let me know who your favorite character with these types are!